Mah Govt failed to nominate journos to Legislative Council: CM

Mumbai, Jun 5 (UNI) Maharashtra Chief Minster Vilasrao Deshmukh today regretted the fact that he could not nominate any writer or journalist to the state Legislative Council.

''We had two chances spread over six years to nominate 12 persons each time, but politics of coalition has changed earlier set norms,'' he said.

The Chief Minister was speaking at a function held in Manralaya here to felicitate erstwhile editor and Shiv Sena MP Bharatkumar Raut.

The function was organised by the Mantralaya and Legislature Reporters' Association. Mr Raut was a member of the organization when he was reporting from Mantralaya.

Mr Deshmukh said Mr Raut has found a way to enter Parliament from Shiv Sena, but the Congress could not nominate any journalists to even the Council.

''Earlier, the writers and journalists were nominated to the Upper House. This practice was ended during the Sena-BJP rule in the State. And we could not revert to earlier practice due to constrains of coalition politics,'' he said.

He promised to try to get some journalists into the Council next time. ''The earlier waiting list for the post, if any, has been done away with,'' quipped Mr Deshmukh.

Mr Raut expressed his gratitude that he was receiving felicitation from an organization from where he learned the ropes of reporting.

He, however, lamented that his and Chief Minister's careers went parallel. The Mantralaya and Assembly Reporters' Association president Abhay Deshpande welcomed the guests, while Lokmat editor D K Raikar and Navashakti editor P H Kulkarni lauded the work done by Mr Raut.